Blue Jays: Please tell me this is not HAPPening again

Please tell me that the Toronto Blue Jays are not seriously entertaining the thought of a J.A. Happ reunion for the third time.

According to Jon Morosi of the MLB Network, the Toronto Blue Jays are interested in a reunion with left-handed free-agent pitcher J.A. Happ. The 38-year old has two previous tenures with Toronto spending six combined years with the Blue Jays.

The 14-year veteran made nine starts last season for the New York Yankees accumulating a respectable 3.47 earned run average. It is his 2019 stat line that is a little more concerning where he posted a 4.91 earned run average in 31 appearances for New York and was relegated to mop-up bullpen duties in the postseason.

In six seasons with the Blue Jays, Happ is 59-41 with a 3.88 earned run average while accumulating a 10.6 WAR in 135 games.

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My issue with the prospect of welcoming Happ back into the fold for the third time is simple. The Jays brain trust has been preaching that they have the desire to add impact players this offseason that will get the team over the hump. They have been linked to the likes of Francisco Lindor, George Springer, and DJ LeMahieu thus far this offseason.

Happ does not fit this mold nor does he make the team anymore of a contended than they already are currently. At this stage of his career, Happ is just a guy and not someone who can be relied upon to get important outs.

The Happ’s and Tanner Roark‘s of the world are not going to take the Jays to the promised land and I realize the free-agent pitching market is thin but Happ is not the answer.

MLB Trade Rumors ranks Happ as the 41st ranked available free agent and predict he will sign a one-year/ $6 million dollar deal with the Seattle Mariners in their Top 50 MLB Free Agents Predictions.

If the Jays plan to make a legitimate run at the American League East crown then J.A. Happ is not the answer. Hopefully, this rumour won’t be “HAPPening” anytime soon.